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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffTypical pinworm infections don't cause serious problems. In rare circumstances, heavy infestations may cause:
- Urinary tract infection. More common in females, urinary tract infections sometimes are caused by heavy pinworm infestation.
- Infection of the peritoneal cavity. In women or girls, the parasite may travel from the anal area up the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes and the area around the pelvic organs. This can cause vaginitis, endometritis or other problems.
- Weight loss. When a large number of adult pinworms are living in your intestines, they can cause abdominal pain and take enough nutrients that you will lose weight.
References
- Parasites and Health: Enterobiasis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/html/Enterobiasis.htm. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Dent AE, et al. Enterobiasis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174305878-6/925552497/1608/740.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50293-0_6143. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Craig SA, et al. Enterobiasis. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00092-X--s0845&uniq=174305878&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=925552497#lpState=opened&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00092-X--s0845%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05472-0. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Pinworm infection. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/common/stomach/139.html. Accessed Dec. 4, 2009.
- Fact sheet: Pinworm infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/pinworm/factsht_pinworm.htm. Accessed Dec. 7, 2009.
- Leder K, et al. Enterobiasis and trichuriasis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 7, 2009.
- Ferri FF. Pinworms. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/174689871-3/926963641/2088/500.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00025-3--sc0155_10293. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
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